Old World Mastery
France
The reference points: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, and the Loire.
22 lessons6,340 practice questions1 certification exam~22 hrs of reading
What you’ll master
Explain France's role as the global reference point for wine and articulate why the concept of terroir originated there and why it still matters on the floor
Explain how the Gironde estuary divides Bordeaux into Left Bank and Right Bank, and what geological and stylistic differences that division produces
Explain the geological distinction between the Right Bank and Left Bank and articulate why Merlot dominates the Right Bank's clay-rich soils while Cabernet Sauvignon thrives on the Left Bank's gravel
Explain the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon partnership: how each variety contributes to the character and aging potential of dry white Bordeaux
The curriculum
22 lessons01
France: The Blueprint for the Wine World
60 min read337 practice questions
02
Bordeaux Left Bank: The 1855 Classification and the Médoc
60 min read280 practice questions
03
Bordeaux Right Bank: Pomerol, St-Émilion, and the Merlot Dominance
60 min read274 practice questions
04
Bordeaux White Wine & Sauternes: The Forgotten Genius
60 min read236 practice questions
05
Burgundy: The Architecture of Terroir
60 min read339 practice questions
06
Chablis: Limestone, Frost, and the Purest Expression of Chardonnay
60 min read219 practice questions
07
Côte de Nuits: The World's Greatest Red Wine Slope
60 min read289 practice questions
08
Côte de Beaune: Chardonnay's Greatest Terroir
60 min read299 practice questions
09
Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais & Aligoté: Burgundy's Underappreciated South
60 min read259 practice questions
10
Champagne: Terroir, All Seven Grape Varieties, and the Complete Production Process
60 min read439 practice questions
11
Champagne, The Five Regions, Major Houses, and the Grower Revolution
60 min read324 practice questions
12
Northern Rhône: Syrah, Granite, and the Birthplace of a Grape
60 min read283 practice questions
13
Southern Rhône: Grenache, Galets Roulés, and the Mediterranean Blend
60 min read268 practice questions
14
Loire Valley, West & Centre: Muscadet, Chenin Blanc, and the Atlantic Influence
60 min read286 practice questions
15
Loire Valley: Touraine & Upper Loire: Vouvray, Chinon, and the Sancerre Question
60 min read257 practice questions
16
Alsace: The Rhine's French Side
60 min read303 practice questions
17
Beaujolais: From Nouveau to Cru, Gamay's Second Act
60 min read273 practice questions
18
Jura: Vin Jaune, Oxidation, and France's Most Singular Wine Region
60 min read318 practice questions
19
Savoie: Alpine Viticulture and the Wines of the Mountains
60 min read249 practice questions
20
Languedoc-Roussillon: France's Mediterranean Frontier and the Quality Revolution
60 min read323 practice questions
21
Provence: The World's Rosé Capital
60 min read206 practice questions
22
Southwest France: Ancient Varieties and Hidden Treasures
60 min read279 practice questions
France Mastery Exam
LockedComplete all 22 lessons to unlock the exam and earn the Wine Saint Certified: France credential. A free account tracks your lessons and holds your certificate.